About Our Members:

Michael D. Robinson - Trumpet

A native of Matunuck, Rhode Island, Michael is an active multi-genre trumpet player and music educator in New England and Appalachia. In 2021, Michael completed his undergraduate studies at the Univeristy of Rhode Island where he received B.M. degrees in Music Education and Jazz Performance. He is currently pursuing a M.M. in Jazz Pedagogy at West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV where he frequently performs with the Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Ensembles, Jazz Combos, and Monongahela Brass. In his role as a graduate assistant, Michael has the pleasure of teaching undergraduate trumpet lessons, coaching undergraduate jazz combos, and serving as the assistant director assistant for WVU’s large jazz ensembles. In addition to his studies, Michael is frequently in demand as a trumpet recording artist and is featured on several stylistically-diverse releases. Michael's primary instructors on trumpet include Jenny Collins, Dr. John Charles Thomas, Dr. David Wharton, Mark Berney, and Dr. Robert Sears, and his primary mentors in jazz improvisation include David Zinno, Emmett Goods, Joe Parillo, and Dr. Jared Sims.

Ryan Kerwin - Trumpet

Ryan Kerwin is a music educator and multi-genre trumpeter from Morgantown, West Virginia. As a teacher, Ryan is passionate about making music education approachable and accessible to students with musical interests outside of the traditional band, orchestra, or choir curriculum. Ryan currently serves as Adjunct Professor of Music at West Virginia Wesleyan College, Associate Instructor of Trumpet and Jazz Improvisation at the WVU Community Music Program, and as an Administrative Intern with the West Virginia Governor’s School for the Arts and the annual Jazz Port Townsend workshop in Washington state. In addition to these responsibilities, Ryan maintains an active performance calendar as a classical and jazz trumpet player. His playing is featured on the upcoming NewStream Brass album, “A Step Forward” and his jazz septet project, “Gratitude,” both available on Spotify and Apple Music.

Ryan received a B.A. in Music from the Ohio University Honors Tutorial College, an M.M. in Jazz Performance from the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Music Education from West Virginia University. At Frost, he studied jazz composition and arranging with keyboardist Martin Bejerano and Dr. Stephen Guerra respectively. Ryan’s primary mentors on trumpet include John Schlabach, Dr. Robert Sears, and multi-Grammy winner Brian Lynch.

Jordan Bennett - Horn

Jordan Bennett is a Doctor of Musical Arts student at West Virginia University, studying Horn Performance. At WVU Jordan is a recipient of the Arlen G. & Louise Stone Swiger Fellowship, an award given to a select group of highly competitive doctoral students. Jordan has performed with the West Virginia Symphony, the River Cities Symphony, the Ohio Valley Symphony, and the Symphony of the Mountains. He also performed with the 2019 National Music Festival Orchestra in Chestertown, Maryland and the 2021 Pierre Monteux School Orchestra in Hancock, Maine. Jordan’s research interests are varied, and his work has been supported by the Virginia Federation of Independent Colleges, the Appalachian College Association, and the Emory & Henry College Project Ampersand initiative. He previously presented his research at the 2021 Northeast Horn Workshop and the 2021 International Horn Symposium. Jordan is also the 2020 winner of the International Horn Society’s Barry Tuckwell Scholarship.

Jordan comes to WVU from Tennessee, where he completed a Master of Music degree in Horn Performance at Austin Peay State University. In his time at Austin Peay, Jordan served as principal horn in the APSU Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra. As a Graduate Teaching Assistant Jordan worked with the Governors Own Marching Band and APSU Pep Band, guest conducted the APSU Concert Band, and mentored the APSU Horn Choir. In addition to his horn performance studies, Jordan holds a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in Spanish Language and Literature from Emory & Henry College. His primary teachers have been Jonas Thoms, Kristen Sienkiewicz, and Matthew Frederick.

Ethan Spencer - Trombone

Hailing from south-central Pennsylvania, Ethan Spencer is a sought-after trombonist and music educator in the Greater Appalachian region. In 2021, Ethan earned his B.M.E. in Music Education from the Pennsylvania State University where he studied trombone under the acclaimed trombonist-educator Mark Lusk. During this time, Ethan spent a semester at IES Vienna, where he was personally mentored by William McElheny of the Vienna Philharmonic. Currently, Ethan pursuing an M.M. in Trombone Performance at West Virginia University where he studies with the nationally-recognized bass trombonist Hakeem Bilal. Ethan’s professional experience reflects his interest and proficiency in a wide variety of trombone performance styles. He is frequently featured in the Nittany Valley Symphony Orchestra and he currently serves as the lead trombonist in the M&J Big Band of Pottsville, PA. Because his diverse musical experience gives Ethan is frequently invited to work with high school marching bands in PA and MD and currently serves as Associate Instructor of Trombone, Euphonium, and Tuba for the WVU Community Music Program.

Matthew Tatz - Tuba

Matthew is currently a graduate student at West Virginia University working towards his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Tuba Performance. He is a founding member of the Monongahela Brass and performs in the West Virginia University Recording Ensemble and the West Virginia University Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble. He has performed as a featured soloist with the Columbia Basin Community College Concert Band, a sub for the Mid-Columbia Symphony, and performed tuba for the professional traveling production of "Chicago" in Kennewick, Washington. Matthew was a National Finalist in the 2017 MTNA Young Brass Artist Competition and received 3rd place in the 2018 Northwest Regional Tuba Euphonium Artist Tuba Competition. He has also taught elementary school music for two years at Amistad Elementary in Kennewick, Washington and a semester of middle school grade band at Cherokee Charter Academy in Canton, Georgia.

Matthew received his Masters in Arts in Tuba Performance from Washington State University, and his Bachelors of Music in Music Education from Georgia Southern University. His teachers include Carson McTeer, Dr. Chris Dickey, and Dr. Richard Mason.